The star previously shared her top choices with British Vogue and I decided to replicate her itinerary
Bunch Wine Bar on Berry Street in Liverpool is one of Jodie Comer’s favourite spots in the city
Jodie Comer is one of Liverpool’s most famous exports thanks to her starring roles in a number of major productions. And while the star’s incredible career means she often finds herself working away from her home city, she still keeps her finger on the pulse when it comes to Liverpool’s food and drink scene.
With the phenomenal popularity of Jodie’s upcoming Prima Facie performances at Liverpool’s Playhouse Theatre, she will be back in Liverpool next year for a homecoming finale to the production’s UK tour. And she may well take the opportunity to revisit some of her favourite haunts during this return to the city.
Back in 2020, Jodie shared her favourite places to hang out when she does come home to the city, as part of an interview with British Vogue. The 32-year-old went to St Julie’s Catholic High School in Woolton and appeared in shows including Holby City and Waterloo Road, before going on to star in Doctor Foster and Killing Eve, for which she won an Emmy Award.
Jodie Comer in her one-woman show Prima Facie(Image: DAILY EXPRESS)
Her top picks in Liverpool include what she says are the best places to go for a glass of wine, the best coffee in town and even where she loves to go on a date or for a peaceful walk. I spent the afternoon replicating Jodie’s ideal Liverpool day – and she’s certainly got great taste.
Sefton Park
In her interview with British Vogue, Jodie described how she loves Sunday walks around the lake. She said she also loves going to the Albert Dock to take in the views. Living around the corner from Sefton Park, it’s somewhere I visit pretty much daily – so I enjoyed kicking off my morning before work with a quick 5k run around the beautiful park.
Sefton Park is a well-known and well-loved walking route in all seasons, but I would argue that it is especially beautiful in spring – especially once the handful of cherry blossom trees have come into bloom.
Blossoms blooming in the sunshine in Sefton Park
Despite being just a short walk from the bustling suburbs of Lark Lane and Penny Lane, once you’re inside the park you feel a million miles away from the city – perfect for blowing away the cobwebs on a fresh spring morning. The occasional muddy spot after a week of rain is no bother if you’re dressed for the weather, and you can enjoy the sights of the Palm House and the Peter Pan Statue.
One of the biggest joys of taking in the stunning walking trail around Sefton Park is seeing children and families enjoying this south Liverpool treasure. And the best bit is there are so many amazing cafes, bars and restaurants bordering the park where you can head for a coffee or a pastry after your walk.
Bold Street Coffee
According to Jodie this does the “best coffee in town”, so I decided to start the city centre leg of my Comer-crawl right here. Also, 2pm felt a little bit early to head to a pub or a wine bar in the middle of a working day.
Bold Street Coffee has established its position as an absolute institution in the city, with its quality drinks, delicious food menu and cool vibe. In all the years I’ve been coming to BSC I’ve never had a bad cup of coffee – it’s always spot on. There’s also a branch of the business located in St Pauls Square, right opposite the ECHO’s offices – but I decided to stay true to the spirit of the Jodie day-trip by visiting the Bold Street branch.
Bold Street Coffee.(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
The tiny venue packs a big punch with rotating blends on the menu as well as a selection of freshly made sandwiches, all-day breakfast and lunch dishes, and sweet treats including doughnuts and pastries. I opted for a simple flat white for my visit – and, as always, it was spot on.
You can always tell when a barista has received proper coffee training – from the perfectly pulled espresso shot to the smooth microfoam that’s heated to the perfect temperature from the milk. I resisted the urge to pick up one of the signature ‘buoys’, created a decade ago, which consist of a toasted brioche bun filled with scrambled eggs, melted cheese and a choice of delicious toppings.
The coffee shop can be found at 89 Bold Street
As always, the atmosphere inside BSC was abuzz with people working away on laptops, catching up with friends or enjoying a break from their day with an expertly crafted cup of coffee. BSC aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel, they’re just trying to serve quality coffee and a classic menu, with great vibes. It’s a winning formula that’s been pulling in customers since 2010, and I can see why Jodie opted for this Bold Street institution when choosing her coffee spot.
Bunch
Jodie told British Vogue she picked this Berry Street venue “for all natural wines and tasty small plates”. While there may not be many similarities between me and Jodie, our love for a ‘natty wine’ and a small plate is certainly one I can point to.
Like any self-respecting mum in her early 30s from South Liverpool, I absolutely love a glass of orange wine and some posh olives. Bunch was founded in 2017 and it regularly hosts different chefs who bring exclusive menus to the cosy little venue, which can be paired perfectly with the huge selection of wines on offer.
Bunch Wine Bar on Berry Street in Liverpool
When I visited this week, Bunch were gearing up to host a ‘pintxo night’, presented alongside The Pretty Pidgeon food team, that aims to transport customers to Northern Spain. Small plates on offer for this limited time menu included tomato bread, pork butter on toast and tortilla, with a decadent sounding coffee Basque cheesecake for pudding.
Described by some as “the best wine bar in the north west”, this uber-cool drinks spot offers an every changing menu, guest chefs and pitch-perfect wine pairings. It also offers customers the chance to try wine options you won’t find as standard in other venues, such as orange wines, chilled reds and a selection of incredible cheeseboards to accompany them.
Ye Cracke
If you’ve ever spent a sunny afternoon (or a very late night) drinking around Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter then the chances are you’re already familiar with Ye Cracke. The Rice Street pub is well loved by locals and tourists, who visit the venue because of its reputation for being John Lennon’s favourite pub.
After gaining praise from Jodie in British Vogue, she went on to repeat her love for the venue in a later interview while promoting one of her recent films The Bikeriders. Describing how she’d spend a day with co-stars Austin Butler and Tom Hardy in her home city, she said: “I’d have to take them to my mum’s for a roast dinner because my mum does the best roast. Then I was thinking a walk on the Albert Dock, maybe The Cracke up by Hope Street. They have a little jukebox in there, it’s very stripped back.”
Ye Cracke Pub on Rice Street(Image: Liverpool Echo)
We recently decided to head down for a pint to soak up the atmosphere and see why Jodie is such a fan. The pub has a real timeless charm to it – it’s the epitome of a traditional city centre pub.
Tucked away off Hope Street, the pub was originally called the Ruthin Castle, and there’s been a pub on the site for more than 150 years. In his book ‘Liverpool Pubs’, Ken Pye says that in 1862, the then landlord of the Ruthin Castle extended the premises by buying the cottage next door. The pub was only nicknamed ‘Ye Cracke’ at that time, perhaps because of the narrow entrance alongside it.
On first glance, Ye Cracke may seem to be a seemingly normal, local boozer. It has traditional looking bar areas and wood panelling, while decked out with long bench seating throughout.
The beer garden at Ye Cracke(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A menagerie of walled off separate rooms and snugs serve as places to slope off from the music and chatter. But then you walk through another door and find yourself in one of the city centre’s most treasured beer gardens – an outdoor oasis that surprises the newly initiated – secluded from the vibrant life of the city that surrounds it.
However, the ECHO also recently reported that the venue has reportedly been sold, according to the manager of the historic pub. She said that six staff would be out of work in the process, with their last day expected to be April 27. The ECHO previously approached the pub’s current owners for comment about the sale.
Berry and Rye
Jodie identified this as her ‘perfect date spot’ and said it’s good for cocktails, which is absolutely right. Sadly for me though, Berry and Rye doesn’t open until 5pm, so it was the only venue on my Comer-crawl I wasn’t able to visit on my afternoon jaunt around her favourite venues. I showed up on Berry Street a few hours too early this time round – but I’m familiar with the offering inside this ‘secret’ bar.
With an unassuming entrance, lack of signage and ‘knock to enter’ door policy, it’s managed to maintain an air of mystique even all these years after first opening. I remember when I first moved to Liverpool, the concept of a speakeasy bar seemed so cool and quirky, and I loved visiting Berry and Rye for a date night.
Interior of Berry and Rye in Berry Street, Liverpool(Image: PK Agency)
While the ‘speakeasy bar’ concept may not be such a new thing any more, Berry and Rye has remained a firm favourite because of the incredible service and stellar cocktails on offer. Even though it may not feel like such a novelty to enter a ‘secret’ bar these days, there’s still an allure to entering a venue that’s completely shut off from the outside world, where you can easily lose all track of time and get lost in a good conversation with your date.
Stepping past the blackout curtain that hangs behind the nondescript front door, you’re transported into a drinking den from time gone by. It’s dimly lit, cosy and incredibly romantic. I know plenty of couples who chose this as a first date spot when trying to impress their other half.
While I might have had to miss this final stop off my itinerary due to a poorly timed visit, I’d support Jodie’s assertion that it’s an ideal date spot.